A breathtaking shot of a magnificent frigatebird silhouetted against a total solar eclipse has taken the grand prize in this year’s Bird Photographer of the Year — the world’s largest bird photography competition.
The Frigatebird and the Diamond Ring
Liron Gertsman/Bird Photographer of the Year
The winning image, captured by Canadian photographer Liron Gertsman off the coast of Mazatlán, Mexico, was the result of over a year of meticulous planning. "I spent well over a year planning to capture my dream of a bird in front of the total solar eclipse," says Gertsman. "As the moon uncovered the sun’s edge at the end of totality, I captured this image during the ‘diamond ring’ phase — a moment that lasts mere seconds."
With more than 33,000 entries from around the world, the competition celebrates both the artistry and technical mastery of bird photography.
"Exceptional bird photography takes technical excellence, artistic vision, and dedication," says Will Nicholls, Director of Bird Photographer of the Year. "When everything comes together, you get a spectacular image like this one."
The Young Bird Photographer of the Year 2025 title went to 16-year-old Tomasz Michalski of Poland, for his striking silhouette of a black vulture.
Minimalist Wings
Tomasz Michalski/Bird Photographer of the Year
Now in its tenth year, the contest has conservation at its core. This year, more than £5,000 was donated to the charity Birds on the Brink, supporting grassroots bird conservation projects worldwide. Photographers competed across eight adult categories, including Best Portrait, Bird Behaviour, Birds in Flight, and Urban Birds, as well as a Conservation Award, Portfolio Award, and Video Award. All winning and commended entries are published by Princeton University Press in a hardback coffee-table book (with a foreword by naturalist Nigel Marven).
Feasting at Sunset
Franco Banfi/Bird Photographer of the Year
Radiographing
Sarthak Agrawal/Bird Photographer of the Year
Graceful Flight Over Wild Bloom
Sasha Jumanca/Bird Photographer of the Year
Natural World
Natural World
Natural World
